"Say Goodbye to What"

One Handed

Artists:

Bullion is not a minimalist. The budding producer-- responsible for only a few mixes, remixes, and a debut EP last year-- tends to favor big, splashy production points over the cracked, grey assemblages preferred by some of his London brethren. "Say Goodbye to What" is a nice example of his zany touch: Chunky congas smash up against handclaps, spurts of blaxploitation funk, patches of psych-splattered guitar riffs, and stardusted twinkles, all circled by a devilish parade of taunting, childish "La-La-La"'s. The resulting sound is textured and playful, undercut by the sorrow of an otherworldly vocal sample: "That of all the lords and demons that you leave, I stand entirely alone."

But as lush and expansive as "Say Goodbye" is, Bullion's appreciative nature for a particular sample's origin seems to be of paramount importance. That otherworldly vocal is nicked from Buffie Sainte Marie's "Bells", and Bullion has the good sense to leave her naturally quivering, high-registered voice unfettered. It serves as a guiding beacon through the tangles of some of the deeper, more menacing aspects of the piece, like the Klaus Nomi sample that provides a break from the incessent rhythm. Tied together, it all makes for a funky ritual sacrifice.Â But it also makes for an interesting peek into Bullion's process, one that seems to be invested in allowing each chunk of sound to speak for itself and exist in the madcap creation of the whole simultaneously.